Operator control station for mine haulage vehicle



v. 1. DUDLEY Jan. 15, 1957 OPERATOR CONTROL STATION FOR MJ'LNE HAULAGE VEHICLES 3 She'ets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Oct. 27, 1950 INVENTOR-E -VICTOR. I. DUDLEY.

. ATTORNEY.

V. l. DUDLEY Jan. 15, 1957 OPERATOR CONTROL STATION FOR MINE HAULAGE VEHICLES SSheets-Sh Original Filed Oct. 27, 1950 (h 'INVENTOR= VICTOR I. DUDLEY.

ATTORNEY.

Jan. 15, 1957 I v. I. DUDLEY v ATOR CONTROL STATION FOR MINE HAULAGE VEHICLES OPEIR Original Filed on. 27. 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Y.. E E m L ..N N D R E U 0 VD T N I. T m m Vm mm m JQJ fiw .m m .4. ,P am wk L ,w m k Unimd States Patent "1 :2;77=7;ss0 I t V TOE-ERA'EORTCONTROIZT'STATIONJFORMINE :HAULAGEVEHICLE I a Vdcton; I Dudley Franklin-,1 Ha rassignor to lioy vManufacturing QI1IPfil1yi Pittsburgh, "lia da corporatiorr of Pennsylvania This invention relates'to mine haulage vehicles and partieul'arly toe haulage vehicleof the" type known as a shuttle car for conveying loose material such as coal in T ridergroundi mines wherein" theheadroom is extremely I-Ieretofore shuttle cars were not adapted for use in -n'rihes having "extremely low "headroom due to their height and; moreover,'duej to their'relatively short Wheel 'bases withfihe ends of the cars'overhanging'the Wheels sul stantial' distances, the cars tended to" rock endwise as they traveled? over uneven' floor surfaces frequently causing the; endstofthe car to'fbump the roof in anundesirable manner. Due to" the :conven'tionaLarrangement of the operators station," the cable"reeling'mechanism and the; 'drivingmotors atthe ends of the" car beyond the sides of, themateriahreceiving compartment, it has heretofore lieennecessary to'keepj the wheel baserelatively short -and the -endsfi-o'f the' carf haZd" sulistantial overhang and were necessarily wide. "The 'presenninvention contemplates improvements 'over 'known 'typesof' shuttle cars in that a ear is provided whiclris, extremely'low inheight especially designed for use:*in"mines"havinglow-headroom, and due to the novel arrangement or parts; thewheel base is made relatively long, reducing the overhang" without "decreasing "the overall "length of the'car, thereby minimizing-the undesirable rocking action and thefresultant bumpingof the' roof whichparticularly mi'ghtoccur "in mines having very -low hea'droorn. Due to'the novel design, therop- *erators station and the cablereel mechanism" a're arrangedjamidships b'etweenthe "Wheel taxes at the opposite sides of the car body soihat-itis made-possible to reduce the Width of tlre-endp'ortions of'the "car' thereby to facilitate'maneuvering ofthe'carthrough the relatively restriated spaces and sharply, curved passageways encountered in underground mines: By increasing-the wheel base a longer spa'ce has been provided *for'th'e' operators' station without increasing the overall-lengthof the "car and this is desirable since -the operator must assume'a, reclined positionon the -car duetothe low mine "headroom, and noveljadjustahle supports are provi ded againstvwhich theoperator may recline in eitherof reversed positions-sothat'he may readily control and observe the movementsof the cardi'lring either direction" of its travel. A novel arrangement of controls is also provided'whereby the carnray be readilycontroll'ed during either dll'fiClIlOll'Ofi its operation; The'improved shuttle car is"not=onlylowinheightand relatively compact but isyalso rugged in construction; well adapted-for its intended'purpose;

An object of the presentinvention 'is to provide an improvedmine haulage'vehicle which, due to its'nov'el design, is especially adaptedfor 'use' in mines having low "headroom. Another :object is to" provide animp'roved mine haulage vehicle -of i the type-known as a: shuttle car which due to"its-novel"construction may readily negotiate the relatively restricted andishar'ply curved passageways of anjundergroun'dmine.- Yeranother"ohjectis' topro- 'vide improved shuttle car having ax novel arr ange- Patented Jan. 15,1957

ment of 1 the operators'statiorr and-the cal'a'le reeling'lmechani'sm amidships of the car between thewheel axes whereby relatively narrow end portions for the car are made possible. A further object i's'to provide aniinprov e'tl shuttle car having 'a novel arrangement of" the operators station andimproved adjustablesupports 'forthe operator whereby 'the' operatorm'a'y, assume a recli'n'e'd'posh tion in a relativelycoinfo'rtable manner and may" readily control and observe'the cal-inovements while assuming 'Yet another object is'to provide aniiinprove'dshhttle car having novel features (if construction and arran ements of parts. These and other objects and'advantagesiof'the invention will, however, hereinafter morefully appear.

This application 'is-a division of my cop'ending application SeIiaINO. 192,571; filed Oeob'ter 27; 1950, new matured into "Patent No. 2,698I104, dated December 28, 1954. l

In the accompanying drawings there'lis shown for purposes, of. illustration one form which-"the invention may assume in. practice;

ln these'drawings: Fig. 1 is a, plane View of a shuttle car constructed in accordancewith a preferred'illustr'ative embodiment or the.;invention.

I 'FigJ-Z'ist a side elevation al view o'fthe shuttle car shown in ig.1; f M

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, enlarged sid view of th'e shuttlercar -sliow'ingitheE operators station and the-novel groupinggof the vaiious controls. i v

Fig. 4 is enlargeddetail'view illustrating .an'a'djiistable support'for'theback-ofthe operator ashe assumes arreclinedpositi'on.in'liis station on the car, the lowered collapsed position of the/support being indicated in'dot't'e'd lines. a

"Fig. Slis .a diagrammatic'viw illustrating thehydraulic system;v

} Fig. 6' is van enlarged transverse vertical section taken Figs. 7 and '8 Tare enlargedv detail 'ver'ticalsections taken on. lines 7 7 andl 8 8 respectiv'ely of Fig. 6.

Inthis illustrative construction, as shown in the drawings, thelimprovedininehaulage vehicle of so-called shuttle caris. generally designated 1 and generally comprises a body 2 supported by swivelly mounted propelling and steering 'wheels. 3, vand the body has a'materialfreceivin'g compartment .4 provided with a widened hoppe'rlikepo'rtion sat one endf portion of the car. 'Exten'dinglongitudinallynalongfthe bottom of the compartment' l is the .top run of a conventional endless flight conveyorf6 driven by a motor/7i Arrangedfainidships of the car bodyfat the sides thereof between the wheels are spaces, onetproviding an operators, station 8,' and electricalequipment such as -a cable reel mechanismv9 issui-tably. arranged in the other space at the opposite side of the body, and this reeltmechanismrincludes a cable reel 10 vdriven by a conventional reversible hydraulic motor 11. The conveyor 6-has an. adjustable discharge end 12 which may beadjus'ted hyfhy draulic jacks 13. A motoil4 drives li quid 'pumpingtmeans '15; and traction motors 16-locatedat opposite; sides of the car body beneaththe sides ofthe-hopperlike portion 5" drive the swivelled propelling and steering wheels '3 in all swivell'ed positions thereof. I Y Y Thesteering mechanism for the shuttle car may be similar to that disclosed -,in my Patent No.- 2,590,300, granted March 25,: 1952,hand in order that steering .of the ca'r maytbe easilyreflected bythe operator in either of his reclinedp'ositions '-"in'- his=-?station" duringroppbsite directions of travel of the car, a pair of oppositely disposed coaxial hand wheels 20 is provided 'which serves to operate a valve 21 (Figs. 1 and located at the operators station for controlling flow of liquid under pressureto a steering cylinder 22 (Fig. 5) which is operatively connected through linkage, as described in the patent above referred to, to the pivotal axles for the propelling and steering wheels 3. These hand wheels, which are in effect operator controllable steering wheels, are secured to a horizontal longitudinally extending shaft 23 suitably journaled within a casing 24 secured to the adjacent side of the car body within the operators station 8. This casing is located substantially midway between the ends of the car body, centrally of the operators station as shown, so that the hand wheels are within convenient reach of the operator in either of his reclined positions within his station. The hydraulic system which embodies the valve 21 and the steering cylinder 22 will be later referred to.

Arranged in the space provided by the operators station 8 are adjustable supports 28, 28 in the form of back rests and these supports are located near the opposite ends of the operators station and are oppositely disposed, as shown in Fig. 2, so that one or the other may be effective to support the shoulders and back of the operator in either reclined position assumed by the operator in his station. Each adjustable support comprises, as shown in Fig. 4, a bottom frame 29 having a horizontal upper portion 30 and bent vertical ends 31 which are secured as by welding to a horizontal platform or plate 32 providing the bottom of the operators station. A plate or frame 33 has an angularly disposed upper portion 34 and the lower, portion of: this plate receives a cushion-pad 35 desirably of sponge rubber. The inclined upper portion of the plate has a transverse curved member 36 secured thereto as by welding and this curved member is likewise covered with a cushionpad 37 of sponge rubber. the horizontal portion 30 of the frame are pivotally connected at 39 to links 40 which are in turn pivotally connected at their upper ends at 41 to one end of the frame 33. Short lugs 42 secured to the platform 32 are pivotally connected at 43 to relatively short links 44, the latter in turn pivotally connected at 45 to the other end of the frame 33. Thus, the pairs of links 40 and 44 provide a swinging support for the frame 33, and when the links 44 assume their raised rearward position against the frame 29, as shown in Fig. 4, the latter provides stop or abutment means for the links 44 thus to maintain the support in its elevated supporting position. When the links 40 and 44 are swung about their pivots into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4, the frame 33 is lowered down flat against the horizontal portion 30 of the frame 29. When the support is elevated the back of the operator may rest against the inclined cushion 35 with his shoulders resting against the upper cushion 37 thereby enabling the operator to assume a relatively cornfortable reclined position on the platform 32 within his station on the car. When one support is raised other then unused support is lowered into a collapsed position wherein it leaves the forward view of the operator relatively unobstructed.

Again referring to the controls located at the operators station, it will be noted that arranged just below the gear casing 24 of the steering means, as shown in Fig. 3, is a conventional hand switch 47 for controlling the conveyor driving motor 7 and a conventional safety switch 48 for controlling the circuit to the traction motors 16, in conjunction with a switch 49, for starting, stopping and reversing the traction motors. The switch 49 is provided with dual foot and hand controls comprising a switch actuating lever 58 pivotally connected by an adjustable link 51 to a lever 52 secured to a transverse shaft 53 mounted to turn in bearing brackets 54 secured to the bottom plate or platform 32 of the operators sta- Vertical lug 38 secured to tion. Also secured to the shaft 53 at its outer end is a foot pedal 55. A lever 56 secured to the inner end of the shaft 53 is pivotally connected at 57 to one end of a longitudinally extending operating rod 58 disposed near the inner wall of the operators station. The opposite end of this red is pivotally connected at 59 to a lever 60 secured to the inner end of a transverse shaft 61 journaled in bearing brackets 62 secured to the platform 32 near the end of the operators station opposite from the end at which the shaft and brackets 53 and 54 are located. Secured to the outer end of the shaft 61 is a foot pedal 63. The foot pedals 55 and 63 are con veniently arranged in the operators station so that they may be operated in either of the opposite reclined positions assumed by the operator in his station. Auxiliary dual hand controls 55' and 63' are secured to the rod 58 (Fig. 3) at opposite sides of the middle portion of the operators station. Thus, the switch 49 may be readily operated to control operation of the traction motors 16 whenever the safety switch 48 is closed.

The supporting and propelling wheels are provided with conventional hydraulic disc type brakes likewise controlled from the operators station. These brakes comprise brake discs 65 driven by the traction motors 16 (see Figs. 1 and 2), and cooperating with each disc is a conventional hydraulic cylinder 66. Liquid under pressure may be supplied to the brake operating cylinders from a conventional master cylinder 67 (Fig. 3), and connected to this master cylinder through a conduit 68 is an auxiliary liquid reservoir 69 located in a relatively high position above the master cylinder (see Fig. 3) for maintaining the desired head pressure in the brake fluid system. Again referring to Fig. 3, it will be observed that a foot pedal 71 is secured to a transverse shaft 72 journaled in bearing brackets secured to the platform 32 and a lever 73 journaled on this shaft is pivotally connected at 74 to an operating rod 75 for the master cylinder 67. The pedal 71 may swing freely downwardly relative to the lever 73 into its inoperative position against the platform 32, and when the pedal is swung upwardly into its operative position an abutment 72' rotatable with the shaft72 may engage an abutment 73 on the lever 73, so that the pedal may swing the lever, to actuate the rod 75. T 0 provide a dual control for the brakes within the operator's station, the lever 73 has a lever 76 connected thereto which is in turn connected by a rod 77 to a lever 78 pivoted at 79 on a bracket 80 mounted on the platform 32. The lever 78 is pivotally connected to a rod 81 extending along the inner side of the operators station to a lever 82 pivotally mounted at 83 on a similar bracket 84, and this lever is connected by a rod 85 to a lever 86 journaled on a transverse shaft 87 rotatably mounted at the opposite end of the operators station from the end at which the shaft 72 is located. Secured to the shaft 87 is a foot pedal 88, and this pedal, like the pedal 71, when in raised operative position, may turn an abutment connected to the shaft 87 and engageable with an abutment on the lever 86. Thus the pedal 88 may be freely swung down against the platform when not in use. Evidently either pedal may be used to operate the master cylinder 67, and either may be swung into an inoperative position down against the platform. The pedal 88 is shown in Fig. 3 in its lowered inoperative position down against the platform 32, while the other pedal at the opposite end of the operators station is held up in its operating position by a pin 89 on the lever engaged by the overlying plate 33 of the adjacent lowered adjustable support 28, in the manner shown. Thus, when the operators backsupport is lowered the foot pedal 71 is maintained in the elevated position shown so that it may be conveniently operated by the operator. The pedal 88 has a similar pin which when the pedal is raised isengaged by the overlying lowered support of the other back-support. Counter-weighted dogs 90 pivoted at 91 at the upper ends of the levers 78 and 82 respectively, are engageable with tion.

inthetdesired position.

owes-ps ratchet teeth 9% on the upper portions of the brackets 80 and $4; for positively 'h'olding the brakesinapplied-position. The counter-weights 93-015" -these dogs normally maintain the lattersin released-position out of engagement with-"the ratchetteeth, and the dogsmust be manually swung by the operator into: positions toten'gage the teeth. Thuathehydraulic brakes may bereadily 'controlle'dby the operator inteitherof his reclined positions in his sta- It will be noted: that the various levers and op- I erati'ngrods areprovided with usual. coilr retracting. springs for returning-the controls to their inoperative positions whenreleased by the operator and since such springs are conventional, "detail: description thereof: is not .given.

Also arranged in th'e operators station is aconventional remote control' valve 96 QFigs. 3' and 5") having an operating rod 97 :provi'dedwith: operating handles 98 (Fig. 3 This remote control valve controls flow. of liquid under pressuretola servomotor99it'Fig. 5) for actuating a conventionalelevating control valve device 1001which By 'the provisionaof the remote control jacks, it is possible to locate a relatively small, compact valve at the operators station with small control conduits leading from the operators station and extending along'oneside; of. the vehicle -body to the servomotor, 'andY'also to locate the large, elevating 'valve device 100 'at :any desired'i-positionon the-carbody outside of the .operatorsv station.

The hydraulic-system is shown diagrammaticallywin Fig. 5, and the pumping means comprises separate pumps 101 and102 driven inunison by the; motor 14: and 'having'theirsuction-sidesconnected by aconduit 103 to asliquidtank'1-04r The-discharge of thezpump 101 is.co nnected' byqa conduit -105- to theelevating control. valve-de- -vice,100-. The remote contnolvalve-96 is connectedby conduits 106 and107 to theservomotor 99 whereby liquid zmaypbe conducted; thereto and discharged therefromto effect locationof the valve element ofthevalvedeyice 100 Leading from,- the elevating valve device 100 is a conduit 108 connected to the elevating ,jacks 13, and areturnconduit 109 connectsvthe elevating valve, device, back to the tank 104. Also leading from the valve device 100 is a supply conduit 4110 connected liquidfronr the; jacks when the valve element of thevalve device 100 is positioned-to connect the conduit1'0Sstothe return conduit 109. A conventional safety valve 115 connected to the conduit 108: is set to open at a predetermined pressure thereby to prevent excessive pressure in the jack supply line. The discharge side of the pump 102is connected by a conduit 116 to a valve device 117 ofa'type well known to those skilled in the, art, folcontrolling the motor 11 of the cable reel lfl'wh'ereby the reel may be driven inwinding direction and may rotate inunwinding direction, either with or without predeter-.

mined resistance, and a return conduit 118 leads from 6 the-iliquirh for operatingrthesenvomotor *9flzistakenzfroni theire'eltmotor control; \Sincesthe i'generali' mode ofsz'op- :erationvof .a shuttle -:car ofithe:typecdiscloseda'is well TKIIGWD- to those skilled .in the art, a .descripti'onyofi the mode ct -operation thereof'appearsunnecessary to "the proper understanding. of the invention;

Asv :a result of: this. invention, an improved material haulagevehicle TlSYPIOVidCd' which is extremely low in height especially designedifor use: in. underground mines having, "relatively low: headroom and the vehicle, due. to its, novel design,,substantially eliminates the usual. .endwise: bouncing. or: rocking-tendency such as is encountered in conventionall shuttle cars, assitv'travels over an uneven floor surface, thereby-"avoiding frequent bumping :of the mine roof so thatzthe car may be. efliciently operated under low headroom. The shuttle car" is not only low and compact bllli dllfi' toilts :novel; shape it is possible readily to. negotiate sharply. curved andtrestricted passageways isu'chhas are encountered 1111i an underground mine; By the zprovisionzofi a car-having a relatively-long .wlieelabase, much rlonger thant'that ot a conventional. shuttle :car, it is possible to locate the spacesltbr .thefelectrical: equipmenttandzthe operatnrs' stationfiamidshipsof the car-"and intermediate the front andcrear wheels, and: to substan- 'tially reduce K overhang of the ends .of the 1 car beyond the wheels withouttdecreasin'g the overall length of the-car. The 'inovel' 'dualacontrolt arrangement and: its novel location "within the :operatorls" stations-provides convenience .in control' and;the;improved adjustable supportsfor the operator enables 'him to assume. rat relatively comfortable reclinetii'position in; his? station during eitherdirection of 'itravel of the car. ffiheserand other -iadvantages 1 of the invention willcbe clearly' .apparenttrto .those skilled inrthe art.

Whil'e tliere is 'in thistapplicat'ronspecifically described ioneiforrn which the invention may:assumc;inpracticerzit will? be1understood's thatt'thisi form andrmodification thereof are showniforgpurposesof illustration and'zzthat-tthe invention maycbe imo'difiedianduembodiedt iIIJVRI'iOHSIOth?! forms withoutidepanting from-.itssspiritx or. the soope of the :appended claims. a

Whatrl: claim as;'newsandi'rdesireitm secure [by Letters Ratent is;

1. .In. a: vehicletof: .thecharacter idisclosed; means, providing. an; :operatorsx,stationuhavingr-asupportingnstructure including: aabottomtplat forrn :an'd oft suffigient length toiaccommodate ansoperator. in a reclined" positionimsaid station, a shiftable-supporting;:means1mounted 'oncsaid platform and: located within :said: station-near. one. end thereof against which, the operator-may; rest whenhe :as- 'sumessuch reclined position; on said-platform, said; shiftable supporting means includingarmovable'back rest .andtpairswof; links; connected to said: supporting structure and. .to said :back rest: for supporting the-latter. .fOl": swing- I ingi movementvbetween its loweredrinoperative position nearvthe platformzofithe operatorZs station andsits elevated supportingposition wherein the operator; rnayarest;- thereagainst, :andstop,meansaprovidedz bygsaid supporting struc- -ture--.for limiting movement ofhsaidcback rest in either shifted: position thereof;

2-. In, a reversible vehicle 'ofuthes character: disclosed,

meansproviding. an? operatons'station-:and'ihavingi a platform 1 disposed; in 1 a -relative lv low position" on the, vehiclev and 0f! suflicient-length tot-accommodate an; operaj tor in opposite reclined: .positions;=in;said-- statiomduring opposite ,directionsofi travel of; the vehicle,:-.shiftable-supporting meansmounted on saidgpla-tformintheoperators station near its opposite ends 'forasupporting: the shoulders of the operator in, either of hisropposite:reclined -positions on said: platform, saidsupporting means eaohrembodying a supporting plate against whichathe-Toperatons shoulders may; rest and; supporting -and elevatingmeans for said platefonraising;thet-lattenintoitseelevatedtoperw tive= supportingjposition whilewthe -themunusedssupporting -zplate at:the=;o'ther=.-e1id of the stationaismollapsed :an'd

remains lowered close to said platform, said plate when lowered providing a relatively free view in advance .of the operator, and controlling means for the vehicle including dual control elements located near the opposite ends of the operators station and means for interconnecting sm'd control elements so that either may readily be used to control the vehicle when the operator assumes either of his opposite reclined positions in said station, said control elements swingable between a lowered inoperative position close to said platform and a raised operating position, and either of said shiftable supports when in its lowered inoperative position engaging an element on said raised control element to prevent undesired movement of the latter toward its lowered position.

3. A vehicle of the character disclosed having a body providing an operators station the horizontal bottom of which is disposed in a relatively low position on said body and is of sufficient length to accommodate an operator in a reclined position on said horizontal bottom, a shiftable supporting means arranged in said station on said horizontal bottomagainst which the operator may rest when he assumes such reclined position in said station, said supporting means including a movable back rest and pairs of supporting links of unequal length pivotally supported by said bottom of the operators station and operatively connected to said back rest for supporting the latter, and said links swingable about their pivots to locate said back rest either in a lowered horizontal inoperative position close to the station-bottom or in an inclined raised operative position above said station-bottom, and abutment means, said shorter links when said plate is raised assuming a locking position in engagement with said abutment means to lock said back rest against undesired lowering movement.

4. A reversible low-height vehicle of the. character disclosed comprising means providing an operators station disposed below the top of the vehicle and having a bottom platform on which the operator may assume a reclined position, said station being of suflicient length to accommodate an operator in opposite reclined positions on said platform during opposite directions of travel of the vehicle, and control means for the vehicle disposed in the operators station below the top of the vehicle andineluding dual control pedals arranged in the operators station near its opposite ends respectively, means for interconnecting said pedals so that either'pedal may be used to effect control of the vehicle whereby the operator may control the vehicle by a foot in either of his opposed positions in said station, and auxiliary hand control elements carried by said interconnecting means and located at opposite sides of a point midway between the ends of said station so that the operator may manually control the vehicle independently of said pedals in either reclined position assumed by the operator on said station-platform.

5. A reversible vehicle of the character disclosed comprising means providing an operators station having a bottom platform and of sufiicient length to accommodate an operator in opposite reclined positions on said platform during opposite directions of travel of the vehicle, and braking means for the vehicle including dual control pedalsarranged in the operators station near its opposite ends, means for interconnecting said pedals so that either pedal may be used to eifect braking of the vehicle, and means for positively holding said pedals in operating position including pivoted dogs carried by elements of said interconnections and engaging relatively stationary ratchet teeth, said dogs being located in the operators station at opposite sides of a pointmidway between the ends of said station so that the operator may manipulate said dogs in either of the reclined positions assumed by him onsaid station-platform.

6. A reversible vehicle of the character disclosed having pairs of front and rear supporting and propelling wheels adapted to travel over a mine floor for propelling the vehicle during its travel in either of opposite directill tions, means providing an operators station longitudinally at one side of the vehicle below the top of the latter and having its bottom located in a relatively low position on the vehicle and of sufficient length to accommodate an operator in opposite reclined positions on the stationbottom during opposite directions of travel of the vehicle, reversible electric traction motors for driving said wheels, a switch for controlling starting, stopping and reversal of said traction motors, and operating means for said switch including dual control pedals arranged in said operators station near its opposite ends, means for interconnecting said pedals so that either pedal may be used to effect control of said switch, and auxiliary hand control elements carried by said interconnecting means and located at opposite sides of a point midway between the ends of said station so that said switch may be manually controlled independently of said pedals, whereby said switch may be operated either by foot or by hand in either reclined position assumed by the operator in his station.

7. A reversible vehicle of the character disclosed having pairs of front and rear supporting and propelling wheels adapted to travel over a mine floor for propelling the vehicle during its travel in either of opposite directions, means providing an operators station longitudinally at one side of the vehicle below the top of the latter and having a horizontal bottom disposed in a relatively low position on the vehicle and of sufiicient length to accommodate an operator in opposite reclined positions on said station-bottom during opposite directions of travel of the vehicle, reversible traction motor means for driving said wheels, a control device for controlling starting, stopping and reversal of said traction motor, and operat ing means for said control device including dual control pedals arranged in said operators station near its opposite ends, means for interconnecting said pedals so that either pedal may be used to effect actuation of said control device whereby the operator may operate said control device in either reclined position assumed by him in his station, and auxiliary hand control elements operatively associated with said interconnecting means whereby said control device may be operated independently of said pedals in either reclined position assumed by the operator in his station.

8. In a vehicle of the character disclosed, means pro viding an operatorsstation and having a supporting surface shiftable supporting means mounted on said supporting surface and against which the operator in said station may rest during operation of the vehicle, said supporting means embodying a movable support member, and controlling means for the vehicle including a control element in said operators station so that the operator may control the vehicle, said control element movable between inoperative and operative positions, said movable support member when in lowered inoperative position close to said supporting surface cooperating with said control element whereby the latter is precluded from movement toward its inoperative position.

9. In a vehicle of the character disclosed, means providing an operators station, braking means for the vehicle, dual control elements arranged at different locations within the operators station, means for interconnecting said control elements so that either control element may be used to elfect operation of said braking means to brake the vehicle, and means for positively holding either of said control elements in operating position operatively associated with said interconnecting means including a releasable holding device, and shifting elements for said holding devices so that the operator may operate the latter from either of said different locations within said station.

10. A reversible vehicle of the character disclosed having pairs of front and rear supporting and propelling wheels adapted to travel over a mine floor for propelling the vehicle during its travel in either of opposite directions,

awaeso means providing an operators station longitudinally at one side of the vehicle below the top of the latter and having a horizontal bottom disposed in a relatively low position on the vehicle and of sufiicient length to accommodate an operator in opposite reclined positions on said stationbottom during opposite directions of travel of the vehicle, motor operated means for driving said wheels, braking means for said wheels, and operating means for said braking means including dual control pedals arranged in said operators station near its opposite ends, means for interconnecting said pedals so that either pedal may be used to eifect actuation of said braking means whereby the operator may operate said braking means in either reclined position assumed by him in his station, and means providing relative motion between said pedals and said interconnecting means so that either pedal may be swung from a raised operating position to a lowered inoperative position, the pedal in said latter position disposed down against the bottom of said station.

11. In a vehicle of the character disclosed, means providing a space having a horizontal platform at its bottom, said space providing an operators station on the vehicle, a support for an operator assuming a reclined position on the platform in said space, movable supporting means mounted on said platform and carrying said support, said supporting means supporting said support for movement between a raised operative position and a lowered inoperative position in said space, said support when lowered lying close to the top of the platform, an abutment means on said platform and with which sai'd support engages for limiting the lowering movement of said support, said supporting means when said support is in its raised operative position maintaining said support in an upwardly and rearwardly inclined position to provide a rest for the shoulders of the operator reclining on the platform in said space.

12. A vehicle as set forth in claim 11 wherein control means for the vehicle is arranged in said space in a position to be manipulated by the operator from his reelined position on said platform, said control means including a movable control element having means engaged by said support when the latter is lowered for maintaining said control element in its raised operative position, said control element when said support is raised being free for movement into its lowered inoperative po- 45 sition down against the platform.

13. A vehicle as set forth in claim 12 wherein said means on said control element engaged by said support when said control element is in its raised operative position comprises a pin on said control element, said support overlying and engaging said pin when said support is in lowered inoperative position to maintain said control element in such operativev position.

14. A vehicle as set forth in claim 11 wherein said movable supporting means for said support comprises pivoted links disposed out of parallelism for elfecting tilting of said support as the latter swings upwardly towards raised position, said links causing said support to move bodily rearwardly as it is tilted upwardly, and abutment means on said platform and engageable by the forward links for maintaining said support in its raised inclined position.

15. A vehicle as set forth in claim 14 wherein the rear links are longer than the front links, and said shorter links engage said abutment means when said support is in raised inclined position.

16. A vehicle as set forth in claim 15 wherein said abutment means provides an elevated horizontal surface above said platform and against which the bottom of said support rests when said support is in its lowered inoperative position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 367,053 McCurdy July 2, 1887 2,226,027 Stoner Dec. 24, 1940 2,298,448 Arentzen- Oct. 13, 1942 2,399,619 Beck May 7, 1946 2,488,520 Beck Nov. 22, 1949 2,494,324 Wright Jan. 10, 1950 2,529,192 Rossner Nov. 7, 1950 2,590,300 Dudley Mar. 25, 1952 2,593,643 Woolf Apr. 22, 1952 2,650,372 Lowe Sept. 1, 1953 2,698,104 Dudley Dec. 28, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 480,979 France July 25, 1916 148,365 Great Britain Nov. 25, 1920 

